Prime Minister Andrew Holness says St Elizabeth is being thought of as the positioning for Jamaica’s first purpose-built metropolis since colonial occasions, describing the transfer as a “huge deal” and a step towards balanced nationwide growth.
– Commercial –
Talking on Saturday on the opening of a brand new KFC outlet in Black River, Holness revealed that the City Growth Company (UDC) had been tasked with discovering the most effective location for a “third metropolis” that may not replicate Kingston or Montego Bay.
“A number of years in the past I had talked about that Jamaica must function constructed a metropolis. We haven’t actually function constructed a metropolis. Now we have by no means accomplished it. Actually not since colonial occasions. Possibly Spanish City was the one function constructed metropolis,” Holness stated.
“Two areas have been in shut competitors and I’m not going to say particularly the place, as a result of… you don’t need folks to go and begin to purchase land and stake declare after which you may’t do what you should do, so we don’t give the main points as to the place, however suffice to say that the realm that now we have been suggested is the most effective space to do a wholly new metropolis and it’s as a result of all of the requisite components to create a brand new metropolis exists right here,” he added.
“You don’t need to create a metropolis that replicates Montego Bay and Kingston, you need to create one thing distinctive and due to this fact this parish, St Elizabeth, could be the place we might be seeking to develop our new metropolis. That could be a huge deal, huge announcement,” the Prime Minister stated.
Holness linked the plan to a broader set of private and non-private investments now being made throughout the parish in tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure.
“Now you can begin to make sense of why we are actually guaranteeing large investments within the parish which is able to embrace the bypass for Spur Tree to go down after which the bypass to get to right here which is able to successfully bypass Santa Cruz. It should contain a growth of south coast tourism, as a result of now we have a product right here that’s actually nice and we have to maximise that tourism product,” Holness stated.
He additionally pointed to the continued Pedro Plains Irrigation Mission as a key initiative supporting the parish’s agricultural potential. “Now we have a large funding in irrigating the plains right here. Now we have launched the Pedro Plains Irrigation Mission which is now underway, so we’re specializing in the agricultural potential of the parish and that can basically take water from the Black River.”
The Prime Minister additionally urged residents of Black River to assist protect the city’s historic buildings, noting their potential future worth because the area develops.
“For this city of Black River you might have a lot historical past, so many heritage buildings that it pains my coronary heart once I hear that the buildings a few of them have suffered from hearth. A few of them have been destroyed by hearth and I might make an attraction to the residents of Black River, to those that personal a few of these historic buildings, if you recognize what I do know, you’d protect these buildings. Protect them, as a result of very quickly they will be distinctive in worth,” Holness stated.
Trying forward, Holness hinted at a broader plan to diversify the island’s tourism choices, together with a brand new business.
“One thing that now we have not taken benefit of however we must always is training tourism and we’re going to goal this a part of Jamaica for that new business,” he stated.
He added that future growth could be accomplished with enter from residents and stakeholders, noting that his authorities intends to prioritize strategic, localized funding.
“You’ll see strategic and direct infusion of investments in such a method as to enhance the standard of lifetime of the folks to supply the infrastructure that they should create the enterprise atmosphere and in the end to present the folks the power… work and earn the place they reside,” Holness stated.
